Automatic weighing-machine.



No. 897,855. PATBNTED SEPT. 1, i908.

y u. D. sooTT.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 897,855. PATENTBD SEPT. l, 1908.

C. D. SCOTT. AUTUMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

' N'. 897 s55. PATTNTED SEPT. 1.1908.

o u. D. sooTT.

' AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

1l SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"MW @Daw PATENTED SEPT, l, 1908.

1l SHEETS-SHEET 4,

C D SCOTT AUTOMATIC WETGHING MACHINE. APPLIQATION FILED JUNE s, 1907 fn ve n Zor a7 lmw 7 No. 897,855. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

C. D. sCoTT. AUTOMATIC WATCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

l1 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Prg Z3 Invenor v www Wfl misses No. 897,855. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908. G. D. SCOTT. AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1907.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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W l l HL m nesses mi LAll! No. 897 s55. PATBNTED SEP 0. D. SGQTT. T l 1908 AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 7l vl. E.

'nvwor Wln sses W No. 897,855. PATENTED SEPT. I, 1908. C. D. SCOTT. AUTOMATIC WEIGIIING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

l1 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

In z/e nor -MMM No. 897 855. PATENTED SEPT. o. n.- SCOTT. l 1908 AUTOMATIC WTTGHTNG MAGHT .APPLIATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

Wfnesses JE f PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908. 0. D. SCOTT. AUTOMATIU WBIGHING MACHINE;

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

I No. 897,855. PATENTBD SEPT. 1, 1908.

C. D. SCOTT. AUTOMATIC WBTCHINC MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1907.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

QQN EN? Wfnesses l vcitizen of the United States, residing at Toscribed and claimed.

ally, when the desired weight shall have CHARLES D. SCOTT, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING-MACHINE.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 1, 1908.

Application led `Tune 3, 1907. Serial No. 377,115.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. SCOTT, a

eka, in the county of Shawnee and State of ansas, have invented new and useful Im'- provements in Automatic Weighing- Machines, of which the following is a specification. i I My invention relates to automatic weighing machines ada ted to be placed between the reservoir in wiich the commodity to be weighed is contained and the bag, or can, or other receptacle in which it is desired to deliver the commodity after having been weighed.

It is adapted especially for retail stores and the like where it is desired to measure. out small quantities of articles which will fiow, such as sugar, coffee, and the like, and where it is desired to deliver such goods either a single package at a time or many packages, and where it is also desired to measure out different quantities.

By adjusting the Weights, just as on any ordinary weighing machine, my machine is adapted to discharge the commodity from the main reservoir t rough a conveyer into a weighing-can mounted on the scale, and to automatically eut olf the flow and discharge the weighed quantity into its final receptacle, and also at the-same time to restore all the parts to their initial position. The operation is effected, so far as the operator is concerned by the simple movement of a lever.

Objects are to provide in such an ap aratus a means for cutting off the flow so t at the weighing will be accurate; to provide for the simultaneous cutting offl 'of the inflow into the weighing can and thevopening of the outflow from the weighing can into the final receptacle and the restoration of the several parts to their initial position, all automaticllowed into the weighing can; to improve generally upon weighing machines and the I several parts thereof, so as to render thel automatic action certain, simple, and reliable. i

T he invention consists of the several parts, improvements, and combinations herein de- In an application Ifiled by me July 20, 1908, Serial No.` 444,363, for an automatic weighing apparatus, to which reference is hereby made, l have shown and claimed broadly the features relating to the Weightshifting element which are'shown and not claimed in this specification.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification and in the description thereof, l have 'shown my'inven'- tion in some of its preferred forms, and have shown the best mode of applying the princi,- ples thereof; but it is to be understood that the invention itself. is not confined to these drawings and the description of the drawings, that it may be applied to other uses, that parts and combinations as herein separately claimed may be used with or without other connecting parts of similar general nature to those herein described, and that I contem late changes in form, proportions,

materia s, and arrangement, the transposition of parts, and the substitution of equivalent members, without departing from the spiritof the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of the embodiment of my invention, the main feed chute or feedipe, being in cross-section in order to disc ose the details of the automatic weighing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with the addition, however, of an ordinary poise. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through the line ,3' of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the bottom of the feed-tube showing the shutters and their operation. Fig. 5 is a view of the spreader detached. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan view of the upper portions attached to the feed-tube, certain'parts being removed and others'being shown in partial section the heavy dotted outlines indicating the operating lever and adjacent parts in initial and normal position, the full lines indicating their secondary position, and the lighter dotted outlines indicating their 'final position for lnormal positions, are accomplished automatically. Fig. 7 is a vert1cal ser tional View through the line 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section, along the line S -of Fig. '6. Fig. 9,is a view, partly in section, along the line 9 of Fig. 6. Fig. ll) is a side View of the slotted bar pivotcd to the opercan showing especia y the tripping mechanism for'tripping the. weighing can openings;`

ating lever for operating the mechanism for `closing the doors in the bottom of theweighing can. Fig. 11 is `a sectionalview taken along the line 11 of Fig. 12. Fig. `12 is a a side view 'of the u er rim of the weighing Fig. 14 is a sectional view through the line 14 of Fig. and Fig. 15 is a top view ofv the mechanism shown in Fig. 13, the tripping rod being shown in section; Fig.zl6 is a view through the line 16 of Fig. `12. Fig. 17 is a view throughthe line17 of Fig. 12. Fig.

' 18 is a view through the line 18 of 13.

F ig.,19 is a sectional view, partially broken away, of the standard and weighing or compensating spring vsupporting the weighing can,.and is taken a proXimately on the line 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 0 is a sectional view of the spring buiier, takenapproximately on theline 20 of Fig. 1. Fig. 2,1 is a longitu-` i dinal sectional View ofthe weight-shifting device used for giving quick action to the scale when the desired weight is in the weigh- 1ng can. Fig. 22 is a corresponding View of a part thereof. `Fig. 23 is a view of certain arts taken lapproximately on the line 23 of ig. 3. Fig. 24 is a plan view of a modii'ied form of the weighing can and manner of hanging same.` Fig. 25 is a plan view of a -modified form of weighing apparatus, the 'weighing being done by the springs and the.

tripping being accomplished by means of an electric circuit and an electromagnet. Fig. 26 is a side elevation ofsame. Fig.l 27 is a sectional view of the lower portion of the standard and showing the weighing spring and its attachment to the can. Fig. .28 is an deviceL and indicator connected therewith, the indicator having its face removed and certain parts broken away and others shown in section. Fig. 29 is a view of the tripping mechanism in a modified yform,ltaken approximately through the line 29 of Fig. 25. Fig. 30v is a top view of the same mechanism. Fig. 31 is a vertical section throu h the line 31 of Fig. 30. Fig. 32 a view o? the electric contacts and the clampfor adjusting same and sup-1.

porting the indicator. Fig. 33is a side elevation of a further modii'ication and amplii'ica-l l tion of the embodiment of the principles of my invention, here showing four cans or resL ervoirs mounted upon a pedestal soas torevolve about the same, wlth a stationary automatic weighing lap aratus shown in sec\ lirough line 33 of Fig.

tlon approximately t` 37, and being adapted, for instance, to' contain four grades of'cofee and so arranged` that the operator may by quick andsimple operations bring any can into connection with the weighing apparatus and thus weigh out the desired quantity of the desired quality. Fig. 34 is 'a-plan View of the support for ithe automatic operating mechanism. Fig.

operating-mechanism, enlarged, certain parts being shown 1n section.

the modiiied form of discharge tube and shutters and shutter-operating means. Fig. 42 is a detail of the means for latching the automatic mechanism which operates the shutters. Fig. 43 isa side elevation of the automati'c mechanism, enlarged, certain' parts being shown in section. Fig. 44 is a sectional view through tlie line 44 of Fig. 40. Fig. 45 is a vertical sectional view of `the lower end of the tubes and shutters shown in Fig. 41 isa detail of Fig: 43, but taken' approximately-through the line 45 of Fig.' 41. Fig. 46 is a sectional view through the line 46 of Fig. 40.

Briefly summarized, Figs. 1 to 23, inclusive, show one form of the embodiment of my invention. In this form, Athe weighing is done by a scale beam with weights either removable or a shiftable poise or bdth. The weighing can is mounted' at one end of the beam on springs which, as the can is filled from the discharge tube leading from ,the supply bin, permits the can to be lowered by the increasing /weight therein, for the purpose of'always keeping the surface' of the commodity at aboutthesame distance from the discharge, so that when the ap aratus is adjusted to any number of pounds t e stream flowing from the discharge tubelwill Ialways be of, about the same length. Fig. 24 is Ha modiication of thatA apparatus by merely using four springs setat quarters, instead of two set opposite to each other. Figsl25 to 32, inclusive represents a sub stantially similar machine, but here lthe weighing is done by the said springs, thel desired weight being ga'gcd by the extension of the springs, andthe electric' current is used for automatically bringing into operation the shutter-operating mechanisms'.

v Figs. 33 to 46, inclusive, show substantially-the instrnmentalities. ofFigs. 1 to 23, slightly modified, but suitable for application to a series of main reservoirs 'or bins, but

without the modifications of Figs. 25 to'32, and also without the springs for either compensating or weighing, the weighing can bev -mgrlgidly andimmovably attached to the r scale-beam.

. as in other weighing machines.

t e two trap-doors or shutters a, a.

B represents any suitable means for conveying the commodity to be weighed to' the weighing can, here shown as a dischargetube leading rom a reservoir C, and rovided at its discharge end with a pair of s utters b, b,"

whereby the :flow of the commodity into the can is controlled.

The weighing can A is mounted on a suitable weighing apparatus, and the pur ose of the details about to be described will e better understood by an explanation of the relation of the elements just named and their,

manner of co eration, namely: The commodityiows rom the feed-chute or discharge tube B directly into the weighing can, and not into a sack or'other nal container,

The weighing is `regulated by adjusting the weighing .apparatus in any ordinary method; for in--- stance, if it be desired to weigh one pound of the commodity, a one pound weight is placed on the other end of a balance scale, or the poise is correspondingly adjusted. Then-by` the manual operation of a lever, the feed sli-utters' b, b are opened and the weighing-can shutters a, @are closed, and the low of the commodity continues until one pound of the commodity is in the weighing can, which actuates the weighing apparatus which in turn `operaties certain intermediate tri ping mechanism which closes the feed-s utters and opens the weighing-can shutters and restores a l parts to their normal and initial position. Furthermore, in the illustrations now referred to, the weighing can is suspended on springs which are so adjusted as to let down t e weighingcan as the commodity isdischarged into same, so as to maintain the top of the commodity therein at about a constant level, that is, always at about the same distance from the discharge end of the feedchute so that the stream cut 0H will always be of the same length whether one ound or four or any other number be weig ed, and the can is also restored automatically to initial position. The commodity is discharged from the weighing-can through a suitable guiding 'chute' or funnel into its final receptacle. Wrepresents such a weighing apparatus, consisting of a beam or balance scale of a construction modiied to suit the rewhich is divided into a yoke l4, 4, to which is pivoted the supporting ring 5 on which are erected a number of upright rods 6, 6, on the upper ends of which is mounted another ring 7. These rings and upright rods are for supporting the weighing-can and other apparatus as will be hereinafter ex laine'fl.

8, 8 area pair of hollow bu ers to limit the range of action of the'balance beam; 9 is the platform on which the weights are carried; 10 isa perpendicular rod rigidly secured to said platform (which is pivoted to the scalebeam) and 11, 11 are a pair of rods extending parallel with the balance-beam and pivoted in perpendicular alinement with the. fulcrumthereof and also pivoted to said'rod 10 and to the opposite rod 12 which is rigidly secured, by an elbow 13, to the supporting ring 5; whereby the platform is maintained in level position and the cansupport in proper perpendicular position'in the manner well known in the art. The balance beam 3 Vhas a U- shsped Ybend 14, and extending from the bu er 8 is a bracket 15 on which 1s ivoted-a tilting support or tray 16 for a bal d. The bracket has its upper face cut at two angles 19 and `20, and aspring 18'is provided, the parts bearing such relations, as indicated in the drawings, that when the ball is placed well back in thel tray the tray will, by virtue of the added weight of the ball, rest on the face 20 and thus hold the ball therein but when the tra is tilted to rest on' the face 19, the ball wil roll off by force of gravity; the spring 18 being only of sufficient tension to cause the latter tilt when there is no weight on the tray, and not strong enough to raise the-ball when in the former position.

21, 21 are a pair of arms extending from the tray and adapted to be free from the platform 9 when' the platform is up (as in igs. 2 and 3) and to be engaged by said -ssoI platform when it is down (as in Figs. 21 and 22) to tilt the tray and cause the ball to roll Jlatform 9 isanother ball seat 22, and in ront of this seat are some pins 23, 23 extending u from the balance-beam 3, and of such lengt and so disposed thatywhen the platform is down these pins 'form a sup ort for the ball to hold it in seat 22, but w en the latform is up, the pins are below the bottom ine of seat 22, and thus allow the ball to roll out of the seat 22 this differential movement being caused byv reason of said platform traveling on an arc of greater radius than the radius from the fulcrum to the ins. And the parts are so arranged and adjusted that when the platform is down the ball will rest in seat 22, and when the platform is up, the ball will rest in seat 16; and the change from seat 22 to seat 16 is effected when the balance beam is midway between the two extremes, in other words when the exact balance is secured. And the object is this: When the platform is down, the weight of the ball is on the 'latform 4andbalance-beam,but when the eam is. at an exact balance, the weight of the ball is suddenly shifted from the bal.-

ance-beam tothe frame of the scale, and this the scale-beam with e eHect of quickly o erating the trippingr apparatus. for closing't e feed-shutters ,and opening the weighing can shutters, and thus also overcoming the. friction which must necessarily exist inan autocau'ses asudden-dropplingof the other end of I matic apparatus of this kind. This automatic weight or ball shifting contrivance broadly referred'y to and indicated bythe letter'D.v f/

' Secured to the other buffer 8 isa bracket through which passes the tripping iod 25 which has a yoke 26 to pass around the elbow V13, an extension spring 27 to hold it normally in elevated position, and a pair ofarms 28 28 which are engaged by the under side of the scalebeam or yo erA 4, 4 these parts being so arranged that when the yoke end 4, 4 of the balance-beam is down,.said rod is forced down against the tension of said spring by reason of the 'engagement by said yoke 4, 4 with said arms 28, 28, and whensaid yoke end is raised the spring forces said rod up, to operate the tripping mechanism heretofore' referred to and hereinafter to be explained in detail.4

The manner of suspending the weighing can is as folloWsLThere arejtwo oppositely arrangedhollow standards 31, 31 secured in said rmgs 5, 7, and in each of-these is an extension s ring 32 secured to the upper end of the stan ard by an adjusting screw and nut 33, and' at the lowerend to a pin or lug 34 extending from the. side of the weighing can A. These springs constitute a compensating mechanism for Alowering the can as the commodity flows thereinto, so as to maintain a constant level therein. Rollers or sheaves 99, 99 may be provided for' holding the can in proper erect position as it moves up and down; although by providing three or four y such compensating springs, as in Fig. 24, the

use". of'the` guiding rollers may be dispensed with, thus avoiding their friction. At lthe upper end of two or more of the rods 6, 6 may be provided buffer springs 35 (see Fig. 20) inclosed in slotted sleeves 36, and engaged by the yoked larms 37 extending up from the upper rim of the weighing can. yThese buHer springs absorb the jar as the compen-4 i sating springs 32 draw up the can after discharging the contents.

Each of the trap-doors or shutters at the bottom of the weighing can isoperated and controlled by a cord, chain, or band 38, the upper end of' which is fastened on a sheave 39 on a shaft 40, so that by turning the shaft the doors will be pulled shut, and by releasing the shaft, the vdoors will fall open eitherby force of gravity or by the weight of the and thus release the weig contentsin the can. This shaft is mounted at 'one end on an upright extension 41 of a bracket 42 secured to the rim of the can, and

isoperatively connected with the upright sudden yrelief from the weight of the ball l shaft 43' by the miter gears 44; and the shaft 43 has `a forked upper extremity 45, by the o eration of which said shutters ma be c esed. Secured to the other end fythe shaft 40, which may be mounted in a bracket or bearing 47 on the rim of the can, isan arm vor segment 46, which is provided with a series of holes 48, 48, in one of which is a in 49 adapted to strike against the upper e ge` of the can, its purpose being to limit the de-v gree of opening of the shutters, and bel 0'.- adjustable by said several holes. Attache to the can isa latch 50Lwith a spring l52 pressing it inwardly and having a shoulder 51 to engage the arm or segment 46 when the shutters are closed and thus adapted to hold said' shutters closed, and pressed outwardly as by the lease said arm 46 and thus permit the shutters to fall open:

54'is'a rod extending the length of the can and sippo'rted at its lower end on the bracket n l24 an having another rod 56 secured parallel' at its upper end in abracket 55 and thereto by rigid connectingvrods 57, 57. yAt the lower end is a lateral y extending proje'ction, pin,` oi lug 58 adapted to engage a pin 59 in said bracket 24, and at the u per end is a coil spring tending naturally to hold said rod with pin 58 against pin 59, in which" pos'itionrod 56 is clear of arm 53; but by turning rod 54 against the tension of said spring, the rod 56 will press out the arm 53 and latch 5() and thus free arm or segment 46 from said latch 50 permitting the shutters to fall open. By extending this latch operatin rod the full len th of the can as shown, it thusbe capabile of opening said shutters in whatever position the can ma be -when said rod is operated as just descriged Secured to the-up er end of the latch op' erating rod 54 is a W gaged by a notch 63 in a ro pressed against said segment by a spring 66 against a shoulder 67. Rod 64 is adapted, by mechanism hereinafter to be explained,

yto move back and forth against said toothed segment, being in one position drawn back also bybeingarm 53 to re-` eel or segment 61 having a tooth 62l (see Fig. 6) adapted to be en- 64 which is v ioo (to the right as indicated by the dotted outline in Fig. 6) until notch 63 engages tooth 62,

in which position the parts correspond to the vposition of the parts s efore explained in detail; the forward moveown in Fig. 15 hereinment (toward the left in Fig. 6) will turnthe rod 54 against the tension of the spring 60, hing-can shutters, as explained, but a following tooth 62 serves to press the rod 64 away from said segment 61 and releases tooth 62 from notch 63, whereupon the spring 60 again returns the ing rod 54 to normal position being a most instantaneous, it being understood that tooth 62 -is not released from notch 63' until it'has traveled far enough to release the shutters. There m'ay be a protectingl and retainingplate or shield 65 above said segment 61;'

, Extending from the feed-chute or other part of the frame isy a which is extended a shaft 71 having at its lower end a cross-rod 72, 72 which is adapted to enga e between the forks 45 of the shaft 43 toc ose the weighing can shutters, the forks being somewhat far apart'in order to allow of considerable variance, and so that as the can is returned to normal upper position said forks will always be certain to come into register withl said cross-rod 72, it being understood that the forked shaft' 43v is seadjusted that cured to the can and moves u and down therewith, while the shaft 71 1s4 vertically stationary.

73 is a pin projecting laterally from shaft 71, and-74 is a spring which is adapted to press the shaft so as to bring said pin to the position indicated by thehea'vier dotted outine in Fig. being in this position so adjusted that as the weighing can is drawn up, after discharging its contents, with the doors or shutters open, said cross-rod 72 and said forks 45 are in the positions shown in the dotted outline in Fig. 11. A

75 is a lever, being the main operating lever or handle, pivoted at 7 6 to a plate 88, hereinafter to be referred to; and 76 is a rod pivoted to said lever 75 and adapted to operate the rod 73 `which extends through the slot 77 therein; these parts bein so arranged and when in their initial or normal position (as in the` heavier dotted outlines in Fig. 6) the cross-rod 72 will engage between the forks 45, and when the lever 75 is shifted to itssecondary position as, indicated by the full lines, the said wei hing-can shutters will thereby be closed, and the further travel of said lever 75 to its third position, as indicated by the lighter dotted outlines in Fig. 6, said rod 73 will not thereby be further operated, but will on the other hand by reason of the sloping end of said rod 76 be allowed to retract slightly so as to release said cross-rod 72 from a close engagement with forks 45 after having closed Y the shutters which are then held closed by the latch 5() as hereinbefore fully ex lained in detail. When lever 75 is returne ltoinitial position, shaft 71 will also return thereto by s ring 74. v

The feed-shutters b,pb are rigidly secured to the lower ends of the rods 80, 80 and are operated thereby, each shutter comprising a semi-circular plate covering half the openbracket 70, through.

6 which is its normal position,.

ing and bntting against a ypost or pin81, to prevent dulling their sharpened meeting edges or folding. (See Fig. 4.)' Rods 8D, 80 extend up valong chute B, and' each is provided with a coil c osed position against' pins 81, and the spring may be inclosed in a sleeve l83 and at its upperv end `each rod 80 carries, keyed thereto, .`a small gear 84. l

Ri idly secured to the feedchute B is 4a circu ar plate 30 having in its upper surface 87 in its inner edge to -mesh with said gears which the operating lever 75 is pivoted and which is provided with a shoulder 79 adapted to be engaged .by a pinv 78 in said lever 75, and so arranged that said pin will not engage said shoulder until it has traveled from its initial position lines in Fig. 6) to its secondary position, but engaging saidshoulder and moving said entire ring in traveling from its secondary to its third position as indicated inthe lighter dotted outlines in Fig. 6. lAlso securedlto said ring is an arm 89 which has at `its outer end a notch or tooth 90 :adapted to be engaged by the inner end or nose 90 of a lever 91 which is pivoted at its outer end to the tripping rod 25. Said lever is pivoted between suitable lugs onthe bracket 92 which isl rigidly secured to the-tube B, and of which bracket 55 is an extension. The rod 64 is also pivoted to said ring 86. The plates 93, 93 (one of them being removed in Fig. 6) may be provided to cver said ring and securely retain it in place. Normally the ring is held in the position shown in Fig. `6 in f ull lines, by reason of the tension o f the springs 82 action through therods 80, 80, gears 84, 84, and teeth 87. It may be moved, against the vtension of said springs,to the position shown in they lighter dotted outlines in Fig.

open the feed shutters, pull back the trip rod the inner end of lever 91, .said rod 25 being pressed up by its spring 27 by reason (when wei hing) of the weights on the platform 9. And when said trip-rod 25 is pulled down by the action ofthe scale-beam ashereinbefore explained in detail, said notch 90 is released from said lever 91, -and the springs 82 instantly -return the ring and attached parts to elements having hereinbefore been fully explained. lThe lapparatus may be supported on a suitable table 94, and a guiding funnel 95 should be provided under said can to guide the discharged commodity from the weighing can into the bag or other final recepta'cle. At the bottom of the feed-chute l there may be provided a spreader (see Fig.

the outside of the feedV anv annular groove or channel 85 lin whichl movably .fits a ring'86 provided with teethy t84. Secured tovsaid ring-is a plate 88 to.

(shown in the heavier out s `ring 82 which tends naturally to keep it in y ile 6 by the operation of the lever 75, so as to 6'4, and bring tooth 90 into engagement with normal position, the operation of the several suitable type to sp'read the comof any and preventing modity well out in the can piling up in thev middle. l S a convenient method of supporting the 5 bag or other final receptacle, I refer to Fig. 33, where I have shown a platter 96 supported on a bracket 97 pivoted, 98, to the tableleg or frame-work. v

Explaining the operation of the automatic weighing machine as a whole: A weight (for instance, a two-pound Weight) is pla'ced on latform 9, which carries down platform 9, throws part D to position shown in Fig. 21, raises the yoke end 4 of scale-beam, which raises trip-rod 25 a bag is placedunder funnel 95; lever 75 is shifted from its initial position (X in Fig. 6) to its third initial movement closing the weighing-can shutters and the rest of the movement'revolving the ring 86, to open the feed-shutters, to draw back the rod 64, 'and to engage 'notch 90 by lever 91 which holds the ring in ysuch shifted position now, the balance. of the movement in weighing is entirely automatic: the commodity flows through the feed chute into the weighing can, said weighing-can falling byvirtue of the tension on the springs 32, until the weight oftwo pounds isattained in 4the weighing can, whereupon said yokeend 4, 4 will be depressed, shifting the ball d, suddenly pulling down trip-rod 25, releasing notch 90 from lever 91, permitting springs 82 to close feed-shutters and return ring 86 to normal position, which in so returning releases weighing-can shutters through rod 64, rod 54 and latch 50, and which also throws lever 75 around to initial position with shaft 7 1 also in initial position, and as the commodity runs out of the weighing-can, the springs 32 return the can to initial position, and the commodity is discharged down through the guiding `funnel into the bag. Should the next quantity desired be also two pounds, ,the action may be repeated by merely placing the bag under the funnel and shifting the operating lever. vTo change the quantity, simply change the weight on the platform 9, as in ordinary use of scales or the poise 211 on the beam 210 maybe shifted for smaller differences, or boththe weights and the poise may be used in the usual manner. l

The use'of the spreadermay be proper or not according to the commodity; thus it may be used for weighing sugar but in weighing coffee, I prefer, on the contrary, to reduce the opening at the bottom of the feed-chute, as will be explained.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 25 to'32, mclusive: The supporting ring 5 is stationary being mounted, for instance, on the feet or legs 115, but carrying the upright rods 6, 6, and the hollow standards 31, and the u per ring 7, as in the firstdescribed type. he can, the exit-shutters position, the

An insulated roller or 102, parallel with said rod therefor, the feed-tube B and shutters, the plate 30, and the ring therein, the operating handle 75, the weighing-can shutter operat- .ing mechanism and the arrangement for holdmg the ring in secondary position, are all substantially similar to the corresponding parts of the type first described. Instead, however, of using-'the segmental arm 46, I here provide a simpler form (see Figs. 29, 30, and 31) in the shape of the laterally-extending arm 123, and the latch 50 is provided with a nose' 124, instead of a shoulder; and though the arm 123 extends from the opposite side of the shaft 40, yet the movement is exactly the same, with relation to the operation of the weighing can shutters. The latch-tripping rod 54 is also arranged between the two rings 5 and '7 on the other side of the can, and the toothed/memberl and tion shall correspond.

Standing between the two rings 5 and 7, and connected thereto so as to be insulated therefrom, is a rod 100, from which extend two brackets 101, to which is secured a rod and provided 1n one side with depressed teeth or cogs adapted to mesh with a large gear 109. 104 is an adjustable clamp embracing said rod 100 and provided with a spring-pressed pin 105 adapted to engage in holes 106 arranged in the corresponding'face of said rod 100. 107 is a bracket extending from said clamping member 104 and supporting an index F, com rising a round frame or casing 1081in whic 1 is pivoted the gear 109 to the shaft or spindle of which is secured the index-hand 110 which rotates over a face suitably inscribed in the usual manner of such indexes. sheave 111 is pivotcd to the rear of the casing 108l and engages with the adjacent rod 6, which thus serves as a guide. By reason of the insulation of the rod 100 and the insulated roller 111, said rod 100 and the index F are thus insulated from the balance of the machine. Rod 100 is extended down through ring 5, and is connectl the return Wire of which, '114, is connected with any metallic part of the machine, as for instance with one of the feet 115 as shown. A battery LB is provided. Attached to the lupper edge of the weighing-can A is a contact 116which forms one contact or pole of the circuit leading through said battery and electromagnet by reason of its connection with wire 114 and the metallic parts of the machine, it being understood that the entire machine, except as otherwise specified is of metal. Extending inthe path of said contact 116 and secured to the clamp 104 is a contact 117, which is connected to the opposite pole of the battery and electromagnet through rod 100 and wire 112. I have also modified the form of the lever 91 by extendhand being operated by reason of the engagetube B is reduced or choked, 155; and this ing the arm perpendicularly, 118, though the nose 90 is similar to that in the former instance. A link connects lever 118 with an armature 120 of said electromagnet, and this armature may be supported on an arm 121 pivoted to the frame or bracket 122. The springs 32 in this instance serve the double purpose of compensating, as in the former instance, and also of weighing, and obviously require a delicate adjustment for accurate weighing, the weight depending, as usual, upon the extension of the springs. The in-` dex is so adjusted that when the clam 104 is run up to the uppermost notch, the and 110 will point to Zero, but when the clamp is lowered to the point at whichncontacts 116 and 117 will touch by reason of the extension of said springs 32, 32 said hand will point to the number of pounds on the indexliace causing such degreeA of extension, said ment of the gear 109 with the teeth 163. in the drawing the machine is set to weigh four pounds. So far as the operator is concerned, the operation is the same as in the former instance, except that the weight is adjusted by means of running the clamp 104 up or down on said rod 106. Nose 90 is withdrawn from notch 90 when the circuit is closed by reason of the contact of 116 with 117, thus electrically releasing ring 86.

Referring now to the form of my apparatus illustrated in Figs. 33 to 46, inclusive: Four cans CQC', C', C', each forming the quarter of a circle, are disposed around a spindle 150 and pivotally mounted on a pedestal 151, and each has a hopper-like bottom 152 sloping down to an opening 154, and a lid 153. B is a tube fitting snugly through said opening 154 and adapted to be moved up and down therein. The lower end of the choke l find to be proper when using the machine for weighing cofiee to keep\ always a uniform stream of coffee discharging from l the lower end, instead of permitting it to run thereby varying, it being understood that -by means .of bolts 162, 162,

the four'cans are for the purpose of containing four dierent kinds or grades ofvcoffee,

either of whichcans may bepbrought into I connection with the weighing machine W by i a simple. operation.v Secured to the upper end of tube B is a lug 156 extending toward l the side of the can and fastened, to the inner l face of a slip-collar 157 (see Figs. 35, 36and 38) which has a pair of' lugs or arms 159, 159- extending out through a slot 163 in the side of the can and between which is secured the inner end of a handle 165. The lug, slipcollar, and handle may be secured together Collar 157 embraces a band or strip 160 which is secured at its bottom end to the can and which exl tends upward and is wide enough to cover i out faster than it fills in at the upper end and i l l slot'163 and overlap the edges thereof. Secured to the inside of the can on both sides of said strip 160 are the strips 161, 161, whose inner edges overlap the respective edges of said sf. bip 160, it being understood that these strips 161 are secured at their outer edges to the can, their inner edges being loose, and

that they extend the full length of said slotl 163. The can may be reinforced, 164 around the edges of the slot. Strips 160, 161, and 161, are made of very flexible and smooth metal, for instance of polished thin spring brass, and in the absence of slip-collar 157 kpress tightly against the side of the can forming a tight closure therefor, and the parts are so adjusted and arranged, by

`rounding off the inner face of the slip-collar when the strips 161 pass ovei` it (see ifig. 36), that the slip-cellar may be moved up and down in the slot 163 without leaving any opening through said parts; and thus the tube l may be raised and lowered thereby, by a convenient means without opening the .can or letting any coiiee run out, or admitting air thereto, making a commercially airtight coffee can. Arranged under said cans is a bracket or support 166 with a brace 167, for supporting the automatic weighing mechanism hereinafter to be described and which` is shown in detail in Figs. 40 to 46, Fig. 36 being intended merely to exhibit the relative arrangement of the cans, stand, bracket and tubes. From this bracket deends a tube B, and the difierent cans are rought into communication with the weighing machinery through this tube thus, in Fig. 39 it is noted that the tube B is pressed down into tube B. To bring another can into-communication with the weighing machinery, handle 165 will be'raised so as to raise tube B out of tube B, the cans may then be turned around pivot 150 until the can containing the desired kind or grade of coffee is brought to register its tube B with the tube B and said tube B is then depressed, by handle 165 into tube B. And thus the cans may be brought into communication with the weighing apparatus without opening the cans.

To the underside of bracket-166 is secured a plate 168 by screws 169.- This plate has an annular groove or channel 170, in which movably ts a ring 171 to whichthe tube B is rigidly secured., From the underside of plate 168 depend-a number of hangers 172 carrying at their lower ends'a ring 173 loosely embracing tube B and serving merely to brace the same. A plate 174 is fastened to the upper' face of said ring 171, and has a slanting forward end 175, a ridge or hump 176, and a lcontour corresponding to that of the ring.

177 is a depression in the face of the ring and the adjacent portion of the plate to permit' the movement of alpin 178 which is so extended down from the inner end of lever 179 pivoted at 180 as to be moved back and forth as said rinor (and with it said plate 174) is moved back and forth by reason of the en- 5, gagement of said pin with said7 slanting yface 175, the return being effected by a spring 183. The outer end of lever 179 has a segmental gear 181 which meshes with agear 182 which is keyed onto the upper end ofthe'shaft 71 hereinbefore fully described. The weighingcan shutters are closed by the operation of the lever 179, which causes the same movement of said shaft 71, the hump 176 serving to close the shutterstightly and then relax slightly as the pin rides over the following outer edge of the plate 174.

The upper end of rod 54 is pivoted in a l' plate 184 which is supported at the lower end of a hanger 185, and spring a pin 186 also on said plate 184. The other end of rod 64 is pivoted (see Figs. 40 and 46) to a lever 187 fulcrumed in a bracket 188 depending from thethicker and inner part 189 of the plate 168. Lever 187 extends through an opening 187 in plate 168, and is actuated in one way by the spring 190 to draw back the rod 64, and in the other way to cause the kicking off of the latch-tripping-rod 54, by a lug 191 secured to the ring .171 and is 'normally held against the tension of said spring by said lug,y as indicated in the drawings.

192 is a rather strong extension spring by which the parts are held in normal position and returned thereto; one end is secured to the ring 171, and the other end to the plate 168 by a hook 193, which is of the peculiar form shown in order to permit the passage of the lug 191 thereunder.

The rodof the operating handle or the lever 74 has an upward bend 194 and is connected at its inner end to the ring 171 and tube B through, and it works in, a slot 196 in the plate 186 under said ring 171, the inner end of said operating lever being indicated by the vnumeral 195 (See Fig. 44). v

197 is a lug or bracket depending from plate 168, and to this lug or bracket is pivoted the lever 91, the inner end or armvof which extends upwardly, 198, so as to be adapted to engage a notch 199 in the outer edge and under surface of the ring 171 when the ring is turned around (by lever 75) far enough to bring said notch in line withy said nose 198; and this represents the arc described by said lever and ring and connected parts in an operation of weighing.

Each tube Bf is provided at its bottom with a pair of shutters b, b, each shutter be ing rigidly secured to ashort rod or pin 202 the outer end of which is lodged in a bracket 201, and the inner end or portion of which extends into and through a channel 204 formed by lower end of the tube. A spring 2031s pro- 65 vided for each shutter to keep it closed and 66 presses against y fthe feed shutter, latches for holding the exit reason of the choking of the to return it to closed position during operation. Butting or stop pins 81, 81 are provided as in the former instance. Eachshut-- ter has, preferably opposite its pivotal point, an outwardly extending pin 205. Secured to the lower end of the outer tube B are two shutteroperating lugs they extend downwardly and inwardly, one for each shutter, and they are so disposed, as more clearly observable in Fig. 41, that' when the outer tubeBis rotated in the directionof the arrow, each lug 206 will strike against its shutterpin 205 and carry said pin in front of it so as to open said shutters and upon said outer tube returning to normal position, said shutters will be closed by said springs 203.

The outerend of the bracket 166 may be made to conform to the shape of the are described by the upturned portion 194 of the operating lever, and may have a spring 200, which merely acts frictionally to hold said lever in normal position, said friction and ressure being easily overcome when mere y shifting the lever in the/operation of weighing, but being sufficient to prevent the lever from rebounding.

The operation is as follows: Shift the leverV 75 until notch 199 comes into engagement with nose 198 (approximately ninety degrees). The initial movement, through the operation of lever 179, closes the weighingcan shutters. The remaining vmovement draws back rod 64 and opens the feed-shutters. On the desired weight having iiowed into the can, nose 198 is withdrawn from '10o notch 199, which permits spring 192 to instantly restore the parts to normal position.

It is to be understood that in this last-described formof my automatic weighin apparatus, I use the weighing apparatus Wil tofore described in detail, and the mechanically-operated tripping rod 25 also fully described. Also, in thisl construction of an apparatus for weighing the several grades of co ee, I prefer to rigidly attach the weigh- 110 ing-can A to the supporting ring 5, and thus do away altogether with the springs 32, 32. The stream of coee is quite light, and the difference in weight caused by cuttin off a long 'stream or a short .one isnegligil indeed, compensation may be made `by addin a .little to the smaller weights. The tu es B and B" should come only just below the upper rim of the weighing can.

`What l claim is: r

1. 'In an automatic weighing machine, the combination with a weighing apparatus hav- Y ing a suitable container with an exit opening. l and a shutter therefor, a feed chute leadingto said container and a shutter,` therefor, a 125 lever for closing the exit shutter 'and opening shutter closed and thefeed shutter open- .spring-actuated means for closing said'feed shutters, a trip controlled by the weighing 130 ere- Y e, or

apparatus to release the feed shutters and permit them to bev closed by said springactuated means, a trip controlled by said Weighing apparatus to permit the opening of the exit shutter, and means for adjusting the control of said shutters by said Weighing apparatus according to the Weight Within said container.

2. In an automatic Weighing machine, theA combination With a Weighing apparatus having a suitable container with an exit opening and a shutter therefor tending naturally to an open position, of a feed chute for the container having a shutter tending naturally to a closed position, a lever to close the exit shutter and open the feed shutter, and connecting mechanism between the Weighing a paratus and said shutters and automatically controlled by said Weighing apparatus for tripping said shutters to permit the feed shutter to close and the exit shutter to open; together with means for adjusting the said automatic control over said shutters according to the Weight in said container.

3. ln an automatic Weighing machine, the combination With a Weighing apparatus having a container with an exit opening at the bottom and a shutter therefor tending naturally to an open position, of a feed chute for the container having a shutter tending naturally to a closed position, a lever to close the exit shutter and open the feed shutter, latches for holding" the exit shutter closed and the feed shutter open and connecting mechanism between the Weighing ap aratus and said shutters and automatical y controlled by the Weighing apparatus for tripping the shutters to permit the feed shutter to close and the exit shutter to open.

et. ln an automatic Weighing machine, the combination with a Weighing apparatus having a container With an exit opening at the bottom and a shutter therefor, of a feed chute for the container and a shutter therefor, means for closing the exit shutter and opening the feed shutter, a spring-pressed mechanism for releasing the eyit shutter and closing the feed shutter, a latch for vholding the feed shutter open and the exit shutter closed and automatically controlled by said Weighing a paratus, and means for adjusting .the contro over said latch by said weighing apparatus according to the Weight in the container.

5. ln an automatic'weighing machine, the combination with a Weighing apparatus having a container With an exit opening at the bottom thereof and a shutter therefor, of a feed chute leading to said container and a shutter therefor, a means for closing the exit shutter, a manually-operated means for opening the feed shutter, a means for normally restraining the exit shutter from opening, .an automatic means for releasing the exit shutter and closing the feed shutter, a trip rod connecting the Weighing apparatus With the automatic means and controlled by the Weighing apparatus, a frame for the Weighing apparatus, a balance-beam therefor, and a Weight supported alternately on said frame and said balance-beam and automatically shiftable from the one to the other whereby When the desired Weight is attained in the container, said shiftable Weight will automatically shift from said balance-beam to said frame.

' 6. ln an automatic Weighing machine,the combination of a Weighing apparatus having a container with an exit opening and a shutter therefor, a feed chute anda shutter therefor, means for closing the exit shutter and opening the feed shutter, automatic means for closing the feed shutter and releasing the exit shu tter, latches for holding the feed shutter open and the exit shutter closed and controlled by the weighing apparatus, and means for adjusting the control over said latches by the Weighing a paratus according to the Weight Within t e container; said Weighing apparatus including a frame, a balance-beam fulcrumed thereon and sustaining said container on one arm, a counterweight at the other arm of said balance-beam adapted to'be supported alternately upon said balance-beam and upon said frame, and automatic means for shifting said counterweight from said balance-beam to the frame.

7. ln an automatic Weighing machine, the

combination of a frame, a crumed therein, a container sustained by one arm of the balance-beam, a bracket on the frame and a tilting tra pivoted thereto, a ball su ported alternate y on the tray and on the ot er arm of the balance-beam, and means for automatically shifting the ball from the arm to the tray.

8. ln an automatic Weighing machine, the combination of a frame, a balance-beam fulcrumed therein, a container sustained on one arm of the balance-beam, a tray mounted on the frame, anda ball sup orted alternately on the other arm of the ba ance-beam and on the tray and automatically shiftable from the one to the other.

9. ln an automatic Weighing machine, combination of a frame, a balance-beam ful-- crumed therein, a container supported by one arm of the balance-beam, a tray' pivoted on the frame, a platform pivoted to the other arm of the balance-beam, and a ball supported alternately von 'saidy platform and on said tray and automatically shiftable from the one to the other.

10.. ln an automatic weighing machine, the combination of a frame, a balance-beam fulcrumed therein, a container sup orted by one arm of said balance-beam, a 'tilting tray pivoted on the frame, a platform pivoted to the other arm of the balance-beam, ball-seats on said tray and platform respectively, said the balance-beam fuliic' 

